Anambra sets December 31 deadline for C of O recertification
September 6, 2026 7:51 am
The Anambra State Government has given landowners until December 31, 2026, to recertify their old Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), warning that failure to meet the deadline could restrict access to key land transactions.
As reported by Nairametrics on Sunday, the State Ministry of Lands disclosed this in a public notice dated September 1, 2026, and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe.
According to the ministry, the old land administration system will be shut down indefinitely after the deadline, after which holders of unrecertified C of Os will no longer be able to process certain transactions through the Ministry of Lands.
The affected transactions include mortgages, Deeds of Assignment, Certified True Copies (CTCs), registration of Irrevocable Powers of Attorney, and other transactions requiring processing by the ministry.
The ministry said titleholders must have their documents duly recertified and their records captured in the Anambra State Geographic Information System (ANAMGIS) database before they can continue to access the affected services under the new system.
“Be advised that the old system will be shutdown indefinitely on the 31st day of December, 2026, after which the holders of the old Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) will no longer be able to carry out any transactions such as Mortgages, Deed of Assignment, Certified True Copy (CTC), Registration of Power of Attorney etc., unless their documents have been duly recertified and captured in the ANAMGIS database,” the notice read in part.
The ministry said the recertification exercise is ongoing and urged landowners who have not commenced the process to submit their applications without delay.
It explained that the exercise is aimed at updating existing land records and integrating them into the state’s current digital land administration system through ANAMGIS.
Landowners with old C of Os are therefore expected to complete the recertification process and ensure that their records are captured in the database before the December 31 deadline.
The ministry advised titleholders not to wait until the deadline, warning that failure to complete the process could create difficulties in accessing land administration services once the old system is shut down.
However, the notice does not state that an old Certificate of Occupancy will automatically become invalid on December 31.
Rather, the immediate consequence of failing to recertify is the restriction of access to specified land transactions requiring processing through the Ministry of Lands.
The deadline therefore represents a requirement for landowners to update and migrate their existing title records into the ANAMGIS-based system, rather than an automatic cancellation of their existing Certificates of Occupancy.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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